Conyers Kirby
Encyclopedia
Conyers Kirby also known as Ralph Kirby, was an English
professional footballer who played in the Football League
for Birmingham
. He played as an outside right
.
district of Birmingham
. While serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps
, he represented them at football and became a champion sprinter. In 1905 he joined Southern League
club Fulham
, for whom he played four league games. In the 1906 close season he joined Birmingham
, for whom he made his only Football League appearance, on 6 September 1906 in the First Division
match at home to Newcastle United
which Birmingham lost 4–2. He later joined Blackpool
, without appearing in the Football League, and played non-league football
for Worcester City
, Kidderminster Harriers
and Willenhall Pickwick
, before returning to Fulham in 1913.
and FC Barcelona
during the 1920s. He was appointed CE Europa
manager in August 1922 In 1923 he guided Europa to the Campionat de Catalunya. After finishing level on points with FC Barcelona, Europa then beat them 1-0 in a title play-off. They then represented Catalonia in the Copa del Rey
and after defeating Sevilla FC
and Sporting Gijon in earlier rounds, they lost 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao
in the final at the Les Corts
.
Kirby was subsequently appointed coach of FC Barcelona
in December 1924 and replaced Jesza Poszony
. His first game in charge was a 2-0 win in a friendly against First Vienna FC
on Christmas Day 1925. He remained in charge for 39 games.
He joined Athletic Bilbao
in September 1925 and came back to England in May 1926.
Kirby later rejoined CE Europa
and coached them in La Liga
during the 1930-31
season. However they finished bottom of the table and were relegated.
He died in Spain on 9 April 1946.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. He played as an outside right
Outside forward
Outside forward is a position in association football which refers to a footballer who plays as an advanced forward on the right or left wing - as an outside right or outside left. Typically as part of a 2-3-5 formation or one of its variants...
.
Playing career
Kirby was born in the Bordesley GreenBordesley Green
Bordesley Green is an inner-city area of Birmingham, England about two miles south-east from the city centre. It also contains a road of the same name. It is also a ward in the formal district of Hodge Hill. Neighbouring areas include, Alum Rock, Saltley, Small Heath and Yardley.Heartlands Hospital...
district of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. While serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
, he represented them at football and became a champion sprinter. In 1905 he joined Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
club Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, for whom he played four league games. In the 1906 close season he joined Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, for whom he made his only Football League appearance, on 6 September 1906 in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
match at home to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
which Birmingham lost 4–2. He later joined Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, without appearing in the Football League, and played non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
for Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
, Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
and Willenhall Pickwick
Willenhall F.C.
Willenhall F.C. was an English association football club based in Willenhall in the Black Country. The club was formed by the merger of Willenhall Pickwick F.C. and Willenhall Swifts F.C. and competed in the Birmingham & District League, one of the country's strongest semi-professional leagues,...
, before returning to Fulham in 1913.
Coaching career
Kirby retired from playing in 1918 and moved to Spain, where he became a referee and a football manager. He coached both CE EuropaCE Europa
Club Esportiu Europa is a Spanish/Catalan sports club, based in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. The club is best known for its football team who in 1928, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were founder members of La Liga. During the late 1990s they won the Copa Catalunya...
and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
during the 1920s. He was appointed CE Europa
CE Europa
Club Esportiu Europa is a Spanish/Catalan sports club, based in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. The club is best known for its football team who in 1928, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were founder members of La Liga. During the late 1990s they won the Copa Catalunya...
manager in August 1922 In 1923 he guided Europa to the Campionat de Catalunya. After finishing level on points with FC Barcelona, Europa then beat them 1-0 in a title play-off. They then represented Catalonia in the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
and after defeating Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
and Sporting Gijon in earlier rounds, they lost 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
in the final at the Les Corts
Camp de Les Corts
Camp de Les Corts , commonly referred to as Les Corts, was a sports stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was the home ground for FC Barcelona until the club moved to the Camp Nou in 1957....
.
Kirby was subsequently appointed coach of FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in December 1924 and replaced Jesza Poszony
Jesza Poszony
Jesza Poszony is a former Hungarian football manager who coached FC Barcelona during the 1924–25 season. In his only season running the first team he managed to win both competitions Barça participated in: the Spanish Cup and the Campeonat de Catalunya.Pozsonyi started his career playing for Újpest...
. His first game in charge was a 2-0 win in a friendly against First Vienna FC
First Vienna FC
First Vienna FC is an Austrian association football club based in the Döbling district of Vienna. Established on 22 August 1894, it is the country's oldest team and has played a notable role in the history of the game there...
on Christmas Day 1925. He remained in charge for 39 games.
He joined Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
in September 1925 and came back to England in May 1926.
Kirby later rejoined CE Europa
CE Europa
Club Esportiu Europa is a Spanish/Catalan sports club, based in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. The club is best known for its football team who in 1928, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were founder members of La Liga. During the late 1990s they won the Copa Catalunya...
and coached them in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
during the 1930-31
La Liga 1930-31
La Liga 1930-31 season started December 7, 1930 and finished April 5, 1931. It was composed of the following clubs:-Team locations:-Final table:-Results table:...
season. However they finished bottom of the table and were relegated.
He died in Spain on 9 April 1946.
Honours
CE Europa- Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
- Runners-Up 1922-23
- Championat de Catalunya: 1
- 1922-23